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‘Sometimes you just need someone to take a chance on you’: An internship programme for autistic graduates at Deutsche Bank, UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2018

Anna Remington Open the ORCID record for Anna Remington [Opens in a new window]  and
Elizabeth Pellicano
Anna Remington*
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), UCL Institute of Education, University College, London, UK
Elizabeth Pellicano
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), UCL Institute of Education, University College, London, UK Department of Educational Studies, Macquarie University, Wally’s Walk, Sydney, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: a.remington@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Autistic individuals often face significant challenges to obtaining and maintaining meaningful employment – more so than other disability groups. Work placements appear to be an important step to promote employment outcomes, yet there remains a lack of knowledge about the real-life experiences of those involved in such schemes. This study is the first to take a multi-informant, longitudinal approach to examine corporate work-placement schemes: specifically, an internship for autistic graduates at Deutsche Bank, UK. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with interns, their hiring managers and the colleagues who worked alongside them. Results demonstrated positive, meaningful experiences for the majority of those involved, however, some interns also reported anxiety, difficulties in judging communication and confusion regarding office rules. The current findings contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of skilled autistic individuals in work, and should inform the creation of subsequent programmes aimed to promote employment opportunities for autistic people.

Keywords

autismemploymentinternshipoutcomeswork
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 25 , Special Issue 4: Neurodiversity , July 2019 , pp. 516 - 534
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2018 

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